He pointed in the direction where their own lines were supposed to be located—­where they probably were, for it was from there that the lads had come in the rush during the gas attack.  But now the way over which they had hastened, amid fire and smoke and death and wounds, was occupied by a line of gray.  The Germans had slipped down from the left flank and had cut off the retreat of the five Brothers in the mill.  And as the advancing army was coming on in the shape of a huge semi-circle toward the mill it can easily be seen that if the boys were not exactly surrounded it was so near that perilous situation as to be what is called a distinction without a difference.

For a moment, after they had comprehended the situation to which Jimmy had called their attention, they were all silent.  Then Iggy caused another laugh by remarking.

“Well, I eat me now.  I haf some of my rations and I hear where is water running yet.  Always in our countries where is a mill is water.  Of a dryness I am, and water is good for of a dryness.”

“That’s the truest thing you’ve said in a long while!” cried Jimmy, clapping his chum on the back.  “Fellows, we’d better eat and drink while we can.  We have our emergency rations, and, as Iggy says, there must be water where there’s a mill.  It isn’t a wind one and there’s no steam or electricity here yet.  Let’s get ready for a siege.”

“Do you really think they know we’re here?” asked Bob, and he pointed out toward the advancing German army.

“To be perfectly frank, I don’t,” said Jimmy.  “I think the situation is just this—­but let’s go get washed up a bit, and then we can eat and talk.  I’m as dry as a bone, and this—­well this place isn’t just the most inviting,” and he could not repress a shudder as he looked at the death and devastation all about them.  The bodies of the killed Germans were sprawled in all positions, some even resting on the guns.  Then, too, there were bodies of the companions of the five Brothers.  As Jimmy said, it was no place to eat and talk.

They found where the mill stream came down the flume to turn the wheel, and there they washed and drank, and then, finding a room where the miller had evidently lived, they sat down to make what meal they could.  And as they ate the Germans advanced down the hills to occupy the valley in which was located the old red mill.

“Now let’s hear your opinion, Blazes,” called Bob.

They all seemed instinctively to turn to Jimmy as a leader now.  Nor was this the first time.

“Well, I think we’ve seen the last of some Germans and the first of others,” he began.

“Sounds like a puzzle,” commented Bob.

“It may turn out to be before we get through with it,” was Jimmy’s grim reply.  “But here’s the situation as I see it.  You know we started, some days ago, to drive back the Huns.  To a certain extent we succeeded.  Then came a lull, and that ended when they launched an attack to-day—­an attack with the gas as a preface.